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The Legal Aid Commission is facing challenges due to the shortage of public defenders, affecting its ability to handle a high volume of criminal cases.
Currently, there are only 34 lawyers who are acting as public defenders, with just 12 specialising in criminal cases in the Greater Accra, Ashanti, Western, and Western North regions, leaving some regions without legal aid.
According to a report by graphic.com.gh, the Public Defenders Division, one of the three functional divisions of the Legal Aid Commission, was able to resolve only 323 out of the 1,518 criminal cases it received between January 2023 and July 2024.
It added that the situation puts enormous pressure on the few lawyers who must cover multiple border regions.
Currently there are only 2 lawyers responsible for the three regions of the north, and one is due for retirement in 2024, the report added.
The Commission was established to provide quality legal services to the poor and vulnerable in society and to bring justice to the doorstep of the people.
Additionally, it seeks to improve legal aid delivery, improve access to justice for all, expand legal aid services to all districts, and promote access and efficiency in the delivery of justice.
JKB/AE
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